Anyone love Celtic music?

[Highdruid_Cairns]

Before I visit Scotland (something I am saving up for slowly but surely) I want to learn how to play bagpipes.

I could listen to them all day long.

[LalaithUrwen]

That's a good goal! If it takes you as long to save up the money as it's taking me, you might be quite proficient by that time!

[Highdruid_Cairns]

haha, Yeah, it's going to be quite a while before I have it all saved up. Not only would I have to learn how to play the bagpipes, I'd have to buy some first. Chances are it'd be a good idea to take a few lesson (which might be pricey). However, it's all going into my saving for the trip.

[portia]

Mr. Portia played bagpipes. When people would ask him how to learn, he would always say the they should buy a practice chanter and learn fingering, first. Practice chanters are not expensive and they are useful even after you learn the pipes as there are many places where you just. can't. play. the. pipes.

Anna Russel (British commedian, and if you've never heard her routines, you've missed something) said the the bagpipe is played on the "Blow; suck; push; twiddle" method. Blow to fill the bag; suck to close the valve; push to expel air through the bag to the chanter and twiddle on the chanter to produce the music (I use the term loosely).

Read up on bagpipe jokes; most of then are very true.

[LalaithUrwen]

portia, I can imagine.

Buying a practice chanter first is my plan.

I have a lot of plans, though, and not enough time...

[leroyneiman]

Do a search for "Marc Gunn" -awesome artist who also has a Podcast. Diehard ringer too.

[Vanaladiel]

Guru has a chanter and has been playing it since before I met him 10 years ago!!!

[Dunthule]

I love Celtic music.
In fact, my wife and I will be seeing the Celtic Women "Believe" tour later this month.

[PatriotBlade]

Is envious.

[Vanaladiel]

That should be a wonderful concert Dunthule!!! I too am a bit jealous!!

[Dunthule]

Tonight is the night!
It should be a great time.

[Vanaladiel]

So how was the concert hon? Was it as great as we all think it probably was??

[portia]

I am not a fan of Celtic Women, or of Celtic Thunder. I am much more the pub band type, and I adore the Chieftains.

But I hope you liked the concert.

[PatriotBlade]

Portia, you might like the band Gaelic Storm.

[Dunthule]

The concert was fantastic.
Our son who has very limited muscle movement and is legally blind just loves their music. And had a great time at the concert.
We even got to go back stage and meet several of the women.
They even sang Danny Boy to him. (His name )
He was in heaven.

Portia, we went to a local pub last night for dinner and to listen to a live band.
Our son (as well as me) loved it as well.

[portia]

I just spent a very nice 45 minutes on YouTube listening to some of my favorite performers: The Browne Sisters and George Cavanaugh, Men of Worth, Alex Beaton, The Corries, and the Clancy brothers.

It is especially good that we have YouTube to see performers who are not with us anymore or not performing.

[Vanaladiel]

I have gotten where I much prefer stuff from Loreena McKennit, David Arkenstone, Wolfstone and Tempest!

Gaelic Storm is very good, they got their real exposure as the steerage band in the movie Titanic with Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet!

[Ashke Verasca]

I love celtic music! My favourite band is Celtic Woman and solos of the members of this band. The girls are amazing!

[Vanaladiel]

They are extremely good! My granddaughter loves to listen to Hayley Westenra! She has a phenomenal voice.

[Adenydd]

I like Omnia-before-Wolf Love, Shantalla, The Corries, Ewan McColl, Trad Mhor. Trad Mhor is a band I've found only one live performance of on YouTube, and would give much to hear more of. I love Tam Lin and King of the Fairies; and quite a few murder ballads, like Fine Flowers in the Valley.


I keep away from the New-Age stuff.

[Ladykat]

I've liked Celtic music for some time now. I also like the pipes, although I usually get really strange looks from people when I say that.

I know someone who claims all bagpipe music sounds alike unless the piper is playing Amazing Grace. Safe to say he's not a fan of the pipes.

LK

[Lithtaur16]

I love listening to the pipes and drums.

My favorites are Albannach, the 1st Battalion Scotch Guard, Rathkeltair, and The Queen's Piper (a Mr. Mothershead I think, when I got the track)

We have the Rovers locally in Maryland. They came down and played with the Rogues, Albannach and several other bands at the festival last year.

Thank you! I loved the band that played in Titanic but I never thought to look up their name.

http://www.therogues.com/
http://www.roversmusic.com/

[Guruthostirn]

Apparently I'm a bit late to the party...

I've been a fan of celtic music since before I was born. No exaggeration, my mom had taken up the penny whistle while she was pregnant with me. That, and my dad was in a celtic band before that...

Current fav bands go to Wolfstone, Silly Wizard, and Great Big Sea (more maritime than strictly celtic). I enjoy bands that blend celtic sounds well, fiddle and pipes, concertina and pipes, fiddle and flute. When done well, truly remarkable music comes forth.

[Vanaladiel]

Here's a group that some of you might find interesting. I would call them Celtic to some degree!
Omnia

[portia]

Some of you may have heard, in the past, of a solo performer named Alex Beaton. He performed all over the country, led tours to Scotland, etc. Well in Sept (?) 2011, he had a fall and became partially paraylzed. I believe he is improving, but not to the point of performing, yet.

Mr. Portia had a continuing joke with Alex. He would appear in the audience and ask Alex to play "The Hermit." Which is a modern, risque song. They'd joke around a while and Alex would usually play it on the last performance on a Sunday at a Games.

[Vanaladiel]

How sad to see someone so talented sidelined!! I will continue to pray for his full recovery!!

[Gungnir]

Lovers of celtic music might like this - Club Kiaull at the Manx Folk Awards 2013

I do but then I'm biased as my two kids are members (banjo and bass)

[Arassuil]

Has anyone heard of Mediaeval Baebes? They have been around since the late 90's and they do a bit more than just Celtic as they are multi-lingual. I enjoy them more than Celtic Women.
Their recent video, Veni Veni Bella is quite good!

[Dunthule]

Has anyone heard of Mediaeval Baebes? They have been around since the late 90's and they do a bit more than just Celtic as they are multi-lingual. I enjoy them more than Celtic Women.
Their recent video, Veni Veni Bella is quite good!

No I have not, but will go check them out.
Thanks Arassuil!

[PatriotBlade]

I have heard of them and I like most of their music!